There is little doubt, given the passage of time, that after the death of Eugene Sartory in 1946 the mantle of greatest living bow maker fell upon two very different personalities, Emile Auguste Ouchard and the reclusive Jean-Jacques Millant. In 1997, one year before Millant's death the renowned British bow maker Michael Taylor and the American bow collector Sidney Bowden paid him a visit at his shop in Paris.
Read MoreA rare sight - two modele experimental Jean Jacques Millant bows
Jean Jacques Millant bows are highly desirable on the international market, his prices are very strong indeed.
From 1960-1970 he made his systeme brevete modele experimental bows, quickly bought by top performers (the octagonal one on this page was owned by Michael Rabin and sold through Peter Hembrough Bows some years ago) and shrewd collectors as it was known his output was slow and carefully judged.
Little is written about him and so early in the new year I will publish an article about this great maker drawing on reminiscences from colleagues who met and knew him.
J.J. Millant finds a new home
Bought from Michael Rabin’s sister, it was a bow that received many requests to sell from around the world, and is stunning in all respects. In the end though, as a kind of marriage guidance bow dealer, if the bow suits a player to a remarkable extent then you should sell, so off it trots.
Read MoreJust what bows did the great players use?
This is a common question that occurs quite frequently from requests from all around the globe. So below is the beginning of the definitive list. Most players have a stable of bows (Oistrakh used to buy a bunch on his trips to Paris) but also tend to have a favourite that they use more than others
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